We all know how powerful the mind is and there is, as of yet, no definitive proof or evidence of anything supernatural outside of the minds of those involved.

I don't think I have ever really believed otherwise. But that didn't stop me as a teenager being absolutely scared shitless by films like Omen, the Exorcist, Children of the Corn etc. etc.. Zombies, vampires, ghosts, demons, possessions, Apocalyptic world ending stories and all that malarky I really did find genuinely scarey despite wholly accepting the idea that it wasn't real. For whatever reason that knowledge just didn't allay the fear that films and books about these things inspired in me.

These days not so much. In fact I can quite happily watch a horror film or read a horror story alone at night and then switch the light off and go to sleep with barely a second thought.

I don't know what happened. I just sorta grew out of it. These days the rare nightmares that genuinely terrify me invariably involve terrible but not usually fantastical things happening to my kids and suchlike. Much more mundane and all the more disconcerting because of that.

Hoo writes:

So, this all has got me thinking. It seems very apparent to me, now, that all the stories of paranormal activity, all the stories of people seeing supernatural activity all must be the mind playing tricks.

Well a large amount of EvC debate is between those who consider this the blatantly evidenced conclusion and those who insist that there is some reason to consider some supernatural beliefs as more worthy of genuine consideration.

But if there is more to these claims than things like argumentum ad populum (so many people believe these things that there must be something in them), argument from authority (some renowned scientist believes in the supernatural so there must be something to it) or personal experiences that the person believes are the result of supernatural encounters (in effect citing belief as a form of evidence upon which to believe) then I have yet to hear them.

For example: this past week at work I was the only one there, as the rest of the company was on shut down. Whenever I would walk the halls to go smoke outside, I constantly had chills run down my spine when I thought about what could be around the corner or behind that closed door. I have to repeatedly remind myself that I am being an idiot and the shit in my head is just that: my mind playing tricks on me.

From an evolutionary standpoint, wouldn't the human animal be wired for survival instinct? If so, being alone in a building where you know that nobody can help you were you attacked,coupled with reminders from the scary stories--be enough to put you on edge walking through dark hallways?

The only "unknown" that scares me is unknown humans. I live right across the tracks from "the hood" and I hesitate to walk through there in broad daylight, much less at night. My fear is no doubt irrational, based on the low level of actual danger involved.